Examining the Impact of Organisational Culture on Employee Performance in SMEs in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the impact of organisational culture on employee performance in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Enugu State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study investigates how the dimensions of organisational culture that encompass proactiveness, innovation, alignment, and accountability relate to employee performance outcomes, including engagement, creativity, goal realisation, and organisational success. Quantitative data were collected from 173 respondents across selected SMEs using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression were employed for data analysis. The findings reveal that a proactive culture significantly enhances employee engagement, cultural alignment positively influences goal realisation, an innovation-orientated culture promotes creativity, and an accountability-driven culture strongly supports organisational success. The study concludes that organisational culture is a critical driver of SME performance in Enugu State and recommends that SME owners and managers deliberately cultivate proactive, innovative, aligned, and accountable cultures to improve employee outcomes and overall competitiveness.